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Minister Prentice announces more than $5 million to the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute

CALGARY, Dec. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of
Industry, on behalf of Tony Clement, Minister of Health, accompanied by
Dr. Pierre Chartrand, Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
(CIHR), announced today the recipients of 21 health research grants worth more
than $5 million at the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute. The
funding is for a wide range of brain research projects, including projects in
the areas of epilepsy, stroke, movement disorders, stress, depression and
workplace mental health.
"Through CIHR, Canada's government is ensuring that important research
can be done for various health issues that continue to affect Canadians," said
Minister Prentice
The following researchers at the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain
Institute will take a closer look at workplace stress. Lost productivity from
poor mental health is estimated to cost Canadian businesses $33 billion per
year.
- Response to stress: Dr. Jaideep S. Bains is investigating how the brain
responds to external stress. An inability to manage stress
appropriately may underlie the development of mental health disorders
such as depression.
- Depression leading to other problems: Dr. Scott B. Patten is examining
how depression can cause or lead to the risk of other health-related
problems.
- Workplace mental health: Dr. Jianli Wang is tracking employees from
Alberta companies for two years to thoroughly understand what triggers
mental health problems at work.
Minister Prentice also announced the recipients from across Canada of
1,604 CIHR health research grants worth more than $377.5 million. The funding
will support projects in mental health, hospital-acquired infections, cancer,
heart health and wait times, among others. The funded research projects will
be carried out over periods of one to five years.
Of this major health research investment, funding worth $36 million will
be allocated to support health research projects in Alberta. The 143 research
projects funded in Alberta will be conducted at the University of Alberta, the
University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge.
"Guided by the Government's S&amp;T Strategy, we will translate today's
investments in health research and innovation into the health services and
products of tomorrow. To do this, we must keep generating and translating
knowledge, supporting talented researchers, and fostering entrepreneurial
partnerships," said Dr. Chartrand. "CIHR's commitment to supporting excellence
in health research will lead to improved health for Canadians as well as job
creation and economic growth."
"It is our honour and pleasure to publicly celebrate the success of
University of Calgary researchers in attracting more than $15 million in CIHR
funding for 67 projects," said Dr. Harvey Weingarten, President, University of
Calgary. "Our scientists, physicians and health researchers are putting their
considerable talents and passion into finding answers for fundamental
questions about cancer, arthritis, asthma, and obesity, and translating those
results into actions to improve people's lives."
The research projects all exemplify CIHR's comprehensive, problem-based
approach to funding excellence in health research. All 1,604 CIHR research
projects funded across Canada underwent a rigorous peer-review process before
being approved.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of
Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new
scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health,
more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian
health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and
support to more than 11,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
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